There is no shortage of young people today who, while being of average height, wish to get taller in order to have a more attractive and self-assured physique. Some people have turned to the leg lengthening service, which has been proven to be a safe and effective procedure, due to the nature of their jobs, their plans for the future, or the fact that they are foreign students or overseas Vietnamese who want to blend in with the host country.

40-year-old actor gets his legs lengthened so he can land more new roles

NTH is a 40-year-old actor who underwent surgery to stretch his legs by 7 cm. The procedure was performed in Vietnam by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Van Doan, Director of the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics – 108 Military Central Hospital.

Sharing about his leg lengthening journey, actor NTH said: “I actually wanted to undergo leg lengthening when I was 20, but my financial situation at that time did not allow it and I was building my career. Also, back then, the intramedullary nailing technology did not exist and the time spent in an external fixator was still very long.

However, for an actor with a good-looking face, outstanding acting skills, and great feedback from directors in auditions, having short stature was very challenging. I hardly got the chance to play couples with actresses, and I was extremely unfit to “match” with fellow actresses at their ideal height. This prompted me to have leg lengthening surgery before I was too old. My work reaches maturity when I am 40 years old. At 40, I still have many years ahead to wear better clothes, to love life, to have more favorable situations, and to fulfill the wishes of my youth.”

According to Mr. N.T.H, before his surgery, he also went through a period of worry and anxiety because he was old and did not have the same advantages as young people. But after learning more about the treatment regimen, surgical methods, and previous leg lengthening cases as well as getting consulted by the medical team, he felt that every stage was safe and uneventful. Therefore, he decided to spend 2 months for the surgery and another 2 months resting and actively exercising to achieve the desired height.

N.T.H’s career will undoubtedly have many new turning points, many new spectacular roles on the screen, with his height changing from 164 cm to over 171 cm. “There’s nothing greater than letting yourself achieve your long-time wish to become a taller, more confident, and better dresser…” – Mr. N.T.H emphasized.

Photo of N.T.H before undergoing his leg lengthening surgery

9x girl hides her family from her leg lengthening surgery to become more attractive

N.D.L, born in 1990, was only 158 cm tall, but after seeing her close friends, who have model heights, the girl decided to hide her family in order to extend her legs by 5 cm.

Sharing about the decision to lengthen her legs when her height is not too low, N.D.L said that two of her close friends had already had their legs stretched, so the young girl from Hanoi already had a lot of experience, from choosing a prestigious institution at Dr. Doan’s to taking care of herself after surgery and planning exercise time and physical therapy to achieve the highest height. Her friends’ current appearance was the motivation for N.D.L to decide to stretch her legs to be taller and more beautiful.  “Although I am not too short, when I walked with friends who are nearly 170 cm tall, I felt inferior. Above all, I also wanted to have the height of a model, so I didn’t hesitate to get my legs stretched. Now the surgery is very simple as well.”

N.D.L also hid her decision to get surgery from her family. She decided to undergo the surgery herself, because L understood that after only 4-5 months, all her activities would return to normal. The surgery was quite simple. All services at Dr. Doan’s were excellent and very safe. Therefore, L feigned a business trip so that her parents wouldn’t have to worry. After finishing the long trip, her parents saw their daughter as a beautiful and confident woman! And now, when she goes out, many people look up and admire her height. L also enjoys a very confident and proud feeling when striding.

Photo of N.D.L before undergoing her leg lengthening surgery

Young man desires to be taller to realize his dream of studying abroad

Despite possessing a desirable height of 172 cm, the young man from Hanoi N.V.D still went to Dr. Doan’s to extend his legs by 6 cm, to achieve a height of 178 cm.

With the dream of studying in Spain and the desire to walk with his Western friends with pride, N.V.D did not hesitate to spend 2 months to get his legs lengthened by 6 cm.

Thanks to the good mental preparation and health background, the support of the family, excellent service and skills, and Dr. Doan’s great reputation, D was able to achieve his dream without much difficulty.

Photo of N.V.D before undergoing his leg lengthening surgery

The surgery went smoothly, and the recovery time was fast. D quickly returns to his normal life. After only 2 months of surgery, D is learning to walk on his new legs with a height that many people now have to “look up”.

International male student in the UK: To be beautiful requires determination and courage

In order to gain more confidence and easily integrate into the life in the UK, 25-year-old international student L.A.M spent his summer vacation in Vietnam undergoing leg lengthening surgery.

With a height of only 1m62, the young man planned to get his legs lengthened by 8cm, so that after surgery he would reach an average height of 1m70.

“Actually, when you understand the principle of leg lengthening surgery, you will find it is quite simple but effective. After surgery, it is similar to what happens to a broken bone because the bone will heal right away,” L.A.M shared.

Photo of L.A.M before undergoing his leg lengthening surgery

If you desire to be taller, have stable financial resources and are mentally prepared, especially for the recovery and exercise times, then do not hesitate to book an appointment for leg lengthening surgery. It’s all about making yourself more confident and beautiful.

More and more young individuals are deciding to have leg lengthening surgery to increase their height, beauty, and confidence so they can stand shoulder to shoulder with their international friends. Do not hesitate or pass up the chance to stretch your legs if you are also trying to gain height. We might need to spend money and time, but in exchange we get a fresh start, a new height, a new look, greater confidence, and the ability to enjoy life more. It is definitely worth it.

Recently, 2 cases of severely deformed bow legs were successfully operated on by Assoc. Prof., Ph.D. Le Van Doan, Director of the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, 108 Military Central Hospital. Read Dr. Doan’s commentary on these two cases.

Bow leg correction – Giving new hope to young girl

N.T.H., a 20-year-old from Hanoi, is one of the peculiar patients that Dr. Doan will always remember. Initially, H’s legs were only slightly bent, but after the family took her to get surgery to straighten the legs, the complications became more severe. Every hospital shrugged its shoulders when she requested a second surgery after the first one because it was too difficult and there was a risk of complications. This made H and her family more depressed. However, the burden and pressure were only lifted off of H’s family and friends when Assoc. Prof., Ph.D. Le Van Doan nodded in agreement to perform the surgery. Sharing about this special “patient,” Dr. Doan said that it was not a very complicated case. H admitted that she lacked confidence because of her bow legs when visiting Dr. Doan. Her family has taken her to numerous hospitals and doctors’ offices for treatment, but each one has “shaken their head.” Indeed, only those with bow legs could comprehend their affliction and tenacity.

H’s surgery was successful, and she was able to walk normally after a few months. Although H’s legs still have scars, she can get plastic surgery in the future to have the scars removed as her legs become straighter. Few people can tell she once had bow legs, even when she wears long pants.

The young girl and her family have gone through many difficulties, seeking treatment everywhere, and having sad and desperate days. Now, H wept tears of joy while gazing at her feet in front of the mirror, knowing that she has escaped from the life of bow legs and concerns about disability.

Another example would be 12-year-old N.L.A., who also had severe bow legs. At school, she would get teased by her classmates, making her feel very inferior. A’s family did some research and took her to a hospital in Hanoi. But after the procedure, things got even worse. After a while, there were still surgical scars on the legs, along with deformities. Her family was very concerned. Every hospital they tried to take her to for medical attention shook their heads and refused to accept the surgery because it was too complicated to handle.

What lies ahead for the 12-year-old girl? Her parents looked up every bit of information online while worrying about the disabled child and just so happened to be aware of Dr. Doan and numerous instances of successful surgery. The family made an appointment right away and took L.A to the doctor.

Fortunately, Dr. Doan was able to straighten L.A.’s legs, and as a result of that surgery, L.A. is now happier, more vibrant, and more self-assured when standing in front of everyone.

Trusting the right institution

Nearly every week, patients contact Assoc. Prof. Doan with inquiries about bow legs, X-shaped legs, K-shaped legs, and so on. All of them want to have straightening surgery. According to Assoc. Prof. Doan, leg straightening is performed best at certain ages. It is best to have the surgery when you are 18 years old, but for young children, their legs can be treated with orthotics, casts, or orthopedic braces, which guarantee improvement.

Patients should carefully consider and select a reputable institution and an experienced surgeon to perform the surgery in order to avoid any potential unfavorable complications.

Contact Dr. Doan immediately for advice.

Turning low self-esteem into motivation to escape the life affected by bow legs

According to Assoc. Prof., Ph.D. Le Van Doan, who has more than 30 years of experience in the field of orthopedic surgery, the number of patients seeking correction of bow legs into straight legs has increased in recent years. “Every patient who comes to me for advice has their own set of feelings and goals. They feel inferior and have a lot of self-doubt about their body shape and physique.” – Assoc. Prof., Ph.D.Dr Le Van Doan said.

H.V graduated from university with a first-class degree, has a bright face, and an ideal height of more than 1.6 meters, but she still feels scared and lacks confidence because of her bow legs. “Despite having long legs and white skin, I’ve only ever dared to look at short skirts. I tried on my favorite beautiful dress several times, but I was never confident enough to wear it out on the street because I was always afraid of people looking at my bow legs.” – Ms. H.V., 24 years old, shared.

Ms. H.V. was overjoyed after doing her research online that there is Dr. Doan, who has experience performing corrective surgery for numerous cases of severe bow legs. She immediately scheduled a consultation and eagerly anticipated the appointment to fulfill her dream. “Before performing any orthopedic surgery, I personally examine each patient, take the time to learn about their goals, and use tomography to measure the lower limb axis and provide personalized recommendations. Customers in particular cases were aware of the surgical procedure and the recovery from surgery process.” – Assoc. Prof. Doan shared.

H.V. sought advice and discovered that the surgery, hospital stay, and rehabilitation process were not as difficult and drawn-out as she had originally believed. With the support of her family, she scheduled the surgery right away. Ms. H.V. was unable to contain her happiness as she gazed at her long, straight legs in the mirror before sobbing uncontrollably.

Or, in the case of Ms. N.T. K, she poured her heart out when she saw Dr. Doan. “Having bow legs is still a defect, even if a woman is smart, has an oval face, and is young. I am extremely self-deprecating because of my legs, especially when the nature of my job requires me to meet customers frequently.”

Ms. N.T.K had her legs directly operated on by Doan doctors to straighten them at the end of 2021. “I consider myself lucky and appreciative that the doctors were able to help me have straight legs, something I previously believed could only be accomplished in countries with highly developed medical systems, such as the UK and the US. I am now significantly more confident in life and work after only 4 weeks of surgery and recovery. – Ms. N.T.K revealed.

According to Associate Professor Doan, men are just as likely as women to be interested in leg lengthening surgery or correcting bow legs. “I once gave two French brothers both leg lengthening and leg correction procedures. Having crossed great distances to Vietnam, they showed confidence and determination to have longer legs despite having bent legs and shorter legs than the natives. The French brothers have been able to proudly display their tall figure with straight, long legs that have grown from 1m63 to 1m70 up until this point.”

What level of correction will be used, and when will surgery be necessary?

The majority of people with normal legs are slightly bent, according to Associate Professor Doan, but not everyone has surgery as a result. The doctor decides whether or not to perform the surgery based on the severity, and the outcomes vary depending on each case. The severity is also generally reduced from its initial level to between 90 and 95 percent. Therefore, please feel confident in Dr. Doan for the most detailed advice on indications and procedures for surgery and rehabilitation.

Additionally, Assoc. Prof. Doan claims that surgery to correct the bow leg heals more quickly than leg lengthening. Typically, a patient who has undergone surgery to correct bow legs only requires three to four weeks of rest before being able to walk normally. The patients are once again free to participate in sports after six months.

With only two hours of surgery, having straight legs and being the right height is a significant change that will bring joy, happiness, and a lifetime of confidence.

More than 2 months after his leg lengthening surgery, the legs of the 40-year-old actor have grown by 7cm in length. His legs are straight and the bones have grown well. His movement is smooth, his body is healthy and he since then has not suffered from any pain or trouble. Now the actor is beginning to move into the rehabilitation phase for his legs.

Leg lengthening surgery is known to be one of the effective methods that could help humans improve their height. With the great development of modern, safe and effective methods of leg lengthening, many people in Vietnam have decided to have leg lengthening surgery to achieve their ideal height. However, some are still hesitant about this method.

A recent leg lengthening procedure that increased the patient’s height from 164cm to 170cm was safely performed 2.5 months ago without any pain. The surgery for the 40-year-old actor named N.T.H came as a surprise for many people. For Assoc. Prof., Ph.D. Le Van Doan, Director of the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics – 108 Military Central Hospital, this also marked the first successful procedure for a 40-year-old male performed by him in Vietnam that stretched the patient’s legs by 7cm.

Leg lengthening in 40s: Risky but… worth it

When asked about his leg lengthening journey, actor N.T.H said: “I actually wanted to undergo leg lengthening when I was 20 but my financial situation at that time did not allow it and I was building my career. Also, back then, the intramedullary nailing technology did not exist and the time spent in an external fixator was still very long.

However, for an actor with good-looking face, outstanding acting skills, great feedbacks from directors in auditions, having short stature was very challenging. I hardly got the chance to play couples with actresses and I was extremely unfit to “match” with fellow actresses with their ideal height. This prompted me to have leg lengthening surgery before I was too old. 40 years old is the time when my work reaches maturity. Being 40, I still have many years ahead to wear better clothes, to love life, to have more favorable situations of work and to fulfill the wishes from my youth.”

According to Mr. N.T.H, before his surgery, he also went through a period of worry and anxiety because he was old and did not have the same advantages as young people. But after learning more about the treatment regimen, surgical methods, previous leg lengthening cases as well as getting consulted by the medical team, he felt that every stage was safe and uneventful. Therefore, he decided to spend 2 months for the surgery and 2 months to rest and actively exercise to achieve the desired height.

“In terms of pain in leg lengthening, I don’t think it’s painful at all. This is because there is great anesthetic technology now. Moreover, the doctors are all highly qualified, and the medical measures at the hospital are guaranteed. When I woke up, I found that the doctor had placed the fixators and then removed them when the procedure was complete. In the first few days after surgery, I was also given pain relievers to help relieve any pain. I could even smile right after the surgery.

Of course, as I was not used to the fixators, wearing them could be uncomfortable. I could not walk normally so I also felt cramped. But it was fine soon after. I could move around using the wheelchair or practice walking in a short distance with a frame.” – The male actor shared.

Mr. N.T.H also disclosed that after getting his fixators removed, he did not feel any pain afterwards with the exception of minor pain at the pin sites.

“It took me 2 months to grow from 164cm to 170cm which for 17 or 18-year old people would usually take years to achieve. Therefore, I think it all came at a cost and it was worth it.” – Mr. N.T.H shared.

Choose the right doctor, leg lengthening journey can be simpler and easier

In order to reach the desired length, Mr. N.T.H emphasized about the importance of finding specialized and experienced doctors.

“I learned about Dr. Doan from the newspapers. He has successfully performed many leg lengthening surgeries, so I decided to come to meet him for counseling and let him perform the surgery for my legs.

Dr. Doan was very professional during my procedure, so I did not feel any pain at all. After the surgery, he wholeheartedly prescribed me drug. There were tonics for my body to recover, calcium supplements. He gave me with more advice on how to have a scientific diet and a detailed exercise regimen to gradually increase the force on my legs. He also helped monitor routine radiographs so I could undergo the transition to walking with crutches…”

Dr. Doan mentioned in the sharing of actor N.T.H is none other than Assoc. Prof., Ph.D. Le Van Doan, Director of the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics – 108 Military Central Hospital, one of the most experienced specialists in leg lengthening surgery in Vietnam.

Regarding Mr. N.T.H’s surgery, Dr. Doan said: “Mr. N.T.H (40 years old) was the oldest patient that I performed leg lengthening on. At first, I myself had some doubts due to his age. However, looking at his determination and desire and based on his physical condition, I decided to performed this surgery. Currently X-ray film of Mr. NTH’s legs shows that the bones are well developed and his legs are straight. He himself could also move gently, and did not suffer from any pain after 2.5 months of getting his legs stretched. Now only the rehabilitation phase remains.”

Mr. N.T.H shared that getting his height increased from 164cm to 170cm has been his long-time wish and he was very fortunate to be able to fulfill it before it was too late. “It only take us around 2 months to improve our height to what we desire. Therefore, if you feel that it is necessary, you should undergo the surgery right away. There’s nothing greater than letting yourself achieve your long-time wish to become a taller, more confident and better dresser….” – Mr. N.T.H emphasized

Photo of N.T.H before undergoing his leg lengthening surgery

Additional Information:

Associate Professor – Doctor of Medicine – Excellent Physician Le Van Doan (Dr. Doan) is the Director of the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics – 108 Military Central Hospital. The Associate Professor has had over 30 years of experience in Orthopaedic and microsurgery.

Up to this day, Dr. Doan has successfully performed over 500 leg lengthening surgeries and over 300 leg lengthening to increase height surgeries. All patients after the procedures are satisfied and become more confident in life.

Since there is an overwhelming number of requests for leg lengthening but very few official sources to research, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D., Le Van Doan has opened the website drdoan.vn for those who are interested to research, consider and carefully prepare themselves before the surgery.

I never thought that I could grow another 10cm, the 26-year old man shocked his family and friends after undergoing leg lengthening.

Feeling inferior because of his limited height compared to his peers, the 26-year-old young man was determined to save money and research thoroughly, getting ready for leg lengthening surgery. After 1 year, S has grown 10cm taller, going to meet partners, customers and friends in confident. This is also one of the biggest height improvement cases in Vietnam.

The young man’s journey to achieve his ideal height

N.H.S, 26, is a young man with a good-looking face who decided to undergo leg lengthening to increase his height by 10cm with the hope to find new work opportunities and special become more confident in life.

Before the surgery, S was only 163cm tall so he always felt inferior and unconfident. For almost 2 years after graduation, he even could not find a desired job because of… his short stature. S said that the stigma and decrying from people around him and the demands on height and physical appearance from employers made him more determined to get his legs stretched.

The young man spent over a year doing his own research, gathering relevant information on the Internet about this topic in Vietnam and around the world. “I researched extensively for credible methods and locations for the procedure. Finally, I “put” my legs in the good hands of Dr. Doan because I knew that Dr. Doan has performed leg lengthening for many people and he was one the most experienced specialists in Vietnam in this field”, N.H.S shared.

After going through the surgery and rehabilitation phase, the 163cm man achieved his ideal height of 173cm. S now can walk and move around normally without having to face any trouble in life.

N.H.S did not feel any pain in the first 10 days in the hospital. From the third day, he could move using his wheelchair.

Not as difficult and painful as I once thought

Looking back at his leg lengthening journey, N.H.S could not hide his surprise and emotions when his surgery was not as painful and inconvenient as he once thought. “During my first 10 days in the hospital, I found everything easy, convenient and almost painless thanks to supportive drugs and advanced and modern techniques. From the second day after the surgery, I could sit by myself to eat, drink and watch TV. From the third day, I could get to my wheelchair to start moving. During the 10 days in the hospital, I almost did not need any care or support from my family.” – S told.

During the treatment period at home, the patient’s sense of self-awareness plays a decisive role in the success of the surgery. In addition to adjusting the stretching frame, the patient must practice hard every day to stretch the tendons evenly, otherwise, later on, the patient will only be able to walk on tiptoe. “I myself, every day, have to schedule my own foot flexion and muscle training exercises”, N.H.S shared.

In order to prevent infection, every few days the bandages will have to be changed at the pin sites with the help from antiseptic drops. S also said that although his leg lengthening process was difficult, he got the chance to meet good friends who shared the same situation. Together, they set up a private chat group to share experiences, encourage and help each other get through the difficult periods before, during and after surgery.

Surprised by the enormous change in height

“After undergoing the surgery, both me and the doctor who performed the procedure were extremely happy. Standing on the legs that have been extended by 10 cm as originally intended, I feel quite surprised. Sometimes I still think I am in a dream,” S happily recalled.

S’ surgery was performed by Dr. Doan himself. This case saw quite a large improvement in height. The patient was one of the people who showed great fortitude and were hard-working in practice. Therefore, after 3 months getting the fixators removed and the bolts unscrewed, he was able to walk again.

Assoc. Prof., Ph.D. Le Van Doan, Director of the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics – 108 Military Central Hospital said that leg lengthening is a rather complicated technique that not only interferes with the bones but also requires knowledge, qualifications and experience, as well as specialized facilities and tools. Therefore, each patient needs to be mentally prepared and choose a reputable and reliable location to ensure the safety of the surgery. Thanks to the sincere advice and enthusiastic attention of Dr. Doan, from being persistently against, S was able to convince his parents to support his decision. That was his biggest motivation.

“In theory, it is possible stretch the legs as much as you want, according to the patient’s needs. But depending on the specific case, we will suggest a suitable length that would have a reasonable proportion with the body. In addition, this also helps to minimize complications,” said Assoc. Prof. Doan.

S affirmed that his decision to get leg lengthening was absolutely right. S do not have to be inferior anymore. Now he is always confident and proud when walking with his peers and he can feel free to choose jobs that he would never dream of before…

“To be where I am today, I feel very fortunate to have met Dr. Doan, who directly consulted and performed surgery for me. I think he is the best specialist in leg lengthening in Vietnam and he especially pours his heart into his work, always encouraging and caring for those who have been and are undergoing surgery. I was right to choose Dr, Doan because this type of surgery is quite complicated. It takes a doctor who is very good in expertise and morals for the patients to feel secure. It was him who asl helped me convince my parents to allow me to perform this surgery.

Although it has been almost a year since my surgery with no problem, the doctor still cares, encourages and often asks about my health, ” said S

Hopefully, the positive change in N.H.S’s life after his surgery will be a motivation that gives strength to those who are short in stature. This is a modern method that does not affect the patient’s life expectancy like many people mistakenly believe.

Additional Information:

Associate Professor – Doctor of Medicine – Excellent Physician Le Van Doan (Dr. Doan) is the Director of the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics – 108 Military Central Hospital. The Associate Professor has had over 30 years of experience in Orthopaedic and microsurgery.

Up to this day, Dr. Doan has successfully performed over 500 leg lengthening surgeries and over 300 leg lengthening to increase height surgeries. All patients after the procedures are satisfied and become more confident in life.

Since there is an overwhelming number of requests for leg lengthening but very few official sources to research, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D., Le Van Doan has opened the website drdoan.vn for those who are interested to research, consider and carefully prepare themselves before the surgery.

My parents gave me a modest height of 156 cm, I dreamt of one day getting my height increased. About 4 years ago I happened to find a program on VTV2 about limb lengthening surgery in the US. The cost for the surgery was not cheap at all. I was very excited, every day I motivated myself to try to earn enough money to fulfill my dream.

Last March, I read an article about the record of the longest length increased, which was 10cm, in Vietnam made by Assoc. Prof. Doan. Only then did I know that this type of surgery existed in Vietnam. I was excited to think about one day when I woke up with my height increased by 10cm, no one would be able to criticize me as the “pepper girl” anymore. With that thought in mind, I immediately called the doctor who performed the surgery to ask for advice. Unlike what I still thought, I would not be able to get my ideal height just after one surgery. In order to achieve that goal, I must go through at least 3 surgeries, facing a lot of pain and risks as well as going through perseverant treatment process and prolonged rehabilitation exercise. After the first surgery, I will have to stay in the hospital for 10 to 14 days, then I will be discharged to adjust from home every day. It will take abou 3-4 months to get the required length. That means I will have lie down and use a wheelchair during that long time before going to the second surgery. After that I will start exercising to be able to walk again soon. After about 18 months, the third surgery will be performed to remove the bone fixing device. When the bone is finally healed and becomes strong, I can return to my normal life and even play sports.

At this point, perhaps most of you will advise me not to take risks, but for me, I must definitely follow this long-cherished dream of mine. If someone has done it, I can definitely do it as well.

I was born and raised in the martial arts land of Binh Dinh. I am currently working for a company outside of Saigon. About a month ago, I flew to Hanoi to meet Assoc. Prof. Doan in person. After examining me, the doctor shook his head and decided not perform surgery on my legs because my bone structure was smaller than usual and could not take intramedullary nails for my legs to get lengthened. I cried a lot. Perhaps all hope are gone for me. Returning home, I was really depressed and didn’t want to do anything anymore. I locked myself in my room all day to cry. In my mind, there was only the thought of getting my legs lengthened.

I burst into tears of joy when Assoc. Prof. Doan called to inform me that there were two small people like me who had surgery to have their legs lengthened without the need of intramedullary nails. He had changed the method and would be able to perform the surgery for me. I was so excited that I quickly booked a plane ticket to Hanoi.

That was just the beginning, folks. I am actually not a strong girl. In order to realize my dream I also needed support. In the past, I have suggested this surgery to my mother many times, but she always rejected the idea and told me to stop thinking about it. She asked me if I was crazy. I was whole. Why would I want to break my legs and then fix them. I would lose a lot, including my years of life. I had never dared to talk about this with my father, because he was difficult. I also had great support from my boyfriend who encouraged me to do it. He promised that if there was an accident, he would take care of me (I doubt it (^_^)).

I planned on hiding it from my parents until my plan was complete, I told them that I was off to Saigon for work. The night before I left, my mother could roughly guess what I was about to do. She told me, her eyes filled with tears, that if something bad happened to me, she could not live anymore. Knowing that I could not hide it anymore, I told my mother everything. My mother was really shocked. I quickly hugged her and burst into tears. “Please support me and let me fulfill my dream, mom. I have found a reputable hospital and a top specialist. You can rest assured that I will come back healthy to be with you again.” My mother also cried, “Staying there all by yourself, you have to be careful, okay? Me and your father will wait for your return.”

To fulfill my dream, I had to accumulate wealth, found a caregiver to take care of me during the 3-4 months after the first surgery was performed when I would not be able to walk. I was certain that I would have to celebrate Tet alone in Hanoi and suffer the freezing cold of the winter in Northern Vietnam.

My journey began…

Stay tuned for the next part guys. Here are some of the pictures of my surgery.

Source: Examination and surgery on demand – 108 Military Central Hospital